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09 July 2021 / David Renton
Issue: 7940 / Categories: Features , Housing , Human rights
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The threat of eviction & life on the brink

52439
David Renton reports on the real-world realities for those left on the verge of eviction

Recently, I represented Ms Silver, a woman in her mid-fifties who had lived in her home for 20 years. She was an agency nurse, and her blue scrubs poked out from beneath a black waterproof coat.

In 2015, Ms Silver suffered a series of delays in renewing her registration as a nurse. The body that handles registrations needed her employers to write to confirm that she worked for them. But her trust managers were always too busy to send the letter. Days became weeks, and in the end Ms Silver went six months without registration. She tried to keep up with her rent, and the benefits advisers told her to declare herself self-employed. She tried to establish an online business selling jewellery, but that work brought hardly any money in. Eventually, the housing association took her to court and obtained a suspended possession order.

A suspended possession order leaves you stuck,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Jean-François Le Gal

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Jean-François Le Gal

Penningtons Manches Cooper strengthens international disputes team with appointment of leading arbitration partner

Shakespeare Martineau—Aaron Sanders & Kate Saunders

Shakespeare Martineau—Aaron Sanders & Kate Saunders

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens trust and estates disputes team with new appointments

Bellevue Law—Shannon Moore

Bellevue Law—Shannon Moore

Bellevue Law strengthens employment disputes and international advisory capability with senior associate appointment

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